My family story mirrors that of many others: We didn’t originally intend to stay in Park City for so long. Eight years later, our wild roots are planted firmly. The mountains and history, the quirky birds and backyard moose, the skiing, the adventure …. I cannot imagine what raising our children in a more magical place would look like.
The Mountain West has always been my natural habitat. Sixteen years ago, I met Molly in Flagstaff and swore to myself I would marry her. We lived/skied in Minturn and Snoqualmie Pass before getting married in Emigrant and moving to Park City in 2015. We have been blessed with three wonderful children, opened a couple of small businesses here, and were able to purchase an affordable home in Park City Heights in 2019.
I was born and raised five hours away from Park City in Boise, Idaho. My mother’s role as a teacher and Idaho’s director of the Federal Deaf-Blind Project for Children instilled in me the values of empathy and respect for all. My father, a worker’s compensation attorney, taught me to dedicate serious time to work you believe in and that details matter.
I have spent several years consistently attending City Council meetings: watching, reading, learning, and at times advocating for positions. I have encouraged the exploration of less-expensive sites for mine waste disposal, helped push for lower AMI% ranges for the affordable units being built at Film Studio Crossing (was 80%, now 60%), strongly supported the Park Silly Sunday Market, and have looked for ways to improve development agreements whose impacts affect the entire community. In 2021, I ran for office to help prevent a landfill from being constructed (in-town) adjacent to Round Valley at the Gordo plot. I know I have made mistakes along the way in both overreliance on script and timing of humor. Nevertheless, I have always been community-minded, practical, and willing to dissent when it benefits our community’s interest.
A current example: I support the idea of maximizing workforce housing in-town at the Gordo site because 1) availability of workforce housing is Park City’s most acute crisis and we can directly address that issue on this land in a meaningful way; 2) park-n-ride lots should be located out-of-town where traffic converges (in order to get folks out of cars immediately), not a mile towards town while bottlenecking three converging traffic flows; 3) commercial development is already being realized at the Film Studio development.
Here, we can enable opportunities for our local businesses to invest in housing and secure employees as a result. For instance, I am interested in an AMI% buy-down program where local businesses can invest in units for their employees. My vision demands community-minded opportunities because this isn’t just about housing: It’s about investing in the heart and soul of Park City, our workforce. In this same light, there is an open opportunity to realize first-floor senior housing here. The creation of this micro-neighborhood can serve many of our community needs better than a well-intentioned, but arguably misplaced, parking lot can.
Our City Council thrives when it represents diverse voices. I am running for City Council because I believe I can help shape a better future for Park City. My promise to you is to be a council member who values collaboration, listens to all perspectives, and works tirelessly to find common ground. Together, we can foster the most productive conversations, leading to well-informed decisions that benefit our community. I’m here to serve you, listen to you, and be a true advocate for our remarkable town.
Thank you for your trust and support.
John Greenfield
Park City